Many churches have “stewardship campaigns” in the fall when church members pledge how much they will be able to monetarily support the church in the coming year. Knowing this amount and applying historical information allows churches to predict both income and expenses to ensure a balanced budget.
In Deuteronomy we are instructed to “set aside a tenth” of the following resources: seed, grain, wine, oil, and firstlings of herds and flocks, and to gather our family and extended family to eat the meal together as a sacrificial meal in a place chosen by God. This sounds a lot like church on Sunday morning and the celebration of the Eucharist to me!
In our Old Testament class this term, we’ve been studying Genesis through Nehemiah. I’d always skimmed over these books but studying them in school made me slow down and really read them. Our midterm paper was on the Mishkan, the building of the Tabernacle where God would reside. In Exodus chapter 36 we read about the two craftsman, Bezalel and Oholiab who were called by the Lord to construct the sanctuary according to God’s detailed instructions. In verses 5 and 6 we hear that the skilled artisans said to Moses, “The people are bringing much more than enough for doing the work that the Lord has commanded us to do. So Moses gave command, and word was proclaimed throughout the camp: “No man or woman is to make anything else as an offering for the sanctuary.” So the people were restrained from bringing; for what they had already brought was more than enough to do all the work.”
What would it be like if the pledges that we make to our churches this stewardship season were so many that the Lord said, “Stop! Enough! What you have brought is more than enough to do all the work in my name.”
I pray for a bountiful harvest and a season of generous followers of the Lord.
Blessings, my friend,
Agatha